I use the knobbys.
best front tire, 448
Got a 448 with 1 knobby and 1 OEM smooth/ribbed front tire. Good news, have 446 parts tractor with same setup. Which would U use, knobby's or OEM's? tanks, john
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I'd use whichever ones hold air. :sidelaugh:
I have several tractors with different tires including the old style smooth/ribbed that are rounded to the sides, the newer ribbed tires that are fairly flat and have deeper ribs than the old style and turf tires. The older ones steer a bit easier since there is less of a footprint. I use the newer rib style in the winter and they work fairly well--better than the old style because the ribs are deeper and seem to grip in the snow better. The turfs don't work very well in the winter but seem about the same as the old style ribs.
The tri rib style are touted by many as they provide good steering traction but can damage soft turf.
Bottom line for me is that they all work fine for my needs but my next purchase will be tri ribs for a change of pace.
I have several tractors with different tires including the old style smooth/ribbed that are rounded to the sides, the newer ribbed tires that are fairly flat and have deeper ribs than the old style and turf tires. The older ones steer a bit easier since there is less of a footprint. I use the newer rib style in the winter and they work fairly well--better than the old style because the ribs are deeper and seem to grip in the snow better. The turfs don't work very well in the winter but seem about the same as the old style ribs.
The tri rib style are touted by many as they provide good steering traction but can damage soft turf.
Bottom line for me is that they all work fine for my needs but my next purchase will be tri ribs for a change of pace.
If one type of tire was perfect for every condition one encounters with a GT, then there would only be one tire made. Tire tread choices are usually base on what works best for you MOST of the time. The bulk of the lawn tractors sold over the years came with a very non-aggressive tread that won't damage the turf under any conditions. Manufacturers want their customers to be happy so that's why that tire tread pattern is chosen. However, not everyone's homestead is dead-flat ground and if the smoothy turf tires are sliding on damp slopes, then a more aggressive tread pattern is called for.
Aggression comes in many forms including those knobby tires you have. As Bart already stated, tri-ribs are at the top of the aggression list followed closely by the herringbone Ag style bar tread pattern normally reserved for rear tires or tractors with 4 wheel drive.
In the end, it isn't what I think or anyone else thinks. It is what works best for you most of the time. If you put the knobby tires on and they tear up you fragile turf when you turn the tractor sharply, then maybe you should go back to the smoothy turf tires. After all, you have both types mounted on rims. Swapping them out takes 15 minutes tops.
Aggression comes in many forms including those knobby tires you have. As Bart already stated, tri-ribs are at the top of the aggression list followed closely by the herringbone Ag style bar tread pattern normally reserved for rear tires or tractors with 4 wheel drive.
In the end, it isn't what I think or anyone else thinks. It is what works best for you most of the time. If you put the knobby tires on and they tear up you fragile turf when you turn the tractor sharply, then maybe you should go back to the smoothy turf tires. After all, you have both types mounted on rims. Swapping them out takes 15 minutes tops.
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